Deep Sea Embers

“Captain Duncan entered your dream?!” The old bishop dumbfoundedly gawked at the inquisitor. He’s even doubting his own sanity like he’s still in a dream of his own, “That ghost captain took the initiative to seek you out… just to tell you about a location to investigate?”

“That’s right. I know how it all sounds, but you must believe me,” Vanna nodded vigorously and didn’t beat around the bush. She knew how the old bishop would act so she readied the story while driving over. “The sixth block chapel… the interaction was short, but the most important piece of information is that.”

The old bishop fell silent for a while. He turned around and looked up at the goddess’s statue like he’s remembering something. “Vanna, do you remember the pollution you suffered at the cult site in the sewers? Afterward, we carried out a purification, but now it seems…”

“I get what you mean,” Vanna took a soft breath, her expression still flat, “it seems that our purification has never succeeded. The Vanished is still chasing me, and the ghost captain… has extended his power to my dreams.”

“Is clarity still with you?” Valentine turned and stared into Vanna’s eyes.

“Absolutely. I tried reciting my name, and the goddess’s during my drive here. I also managed to recite the quotes from the Storm Codex.” The lady nodded firmly, “At present, the pollution is still shallow, and only my dreams are affected.”

“The pollution is shallow but cannot be completely removed like an irretrievable countdown…” Valentine’s tone sounded grim, “You are still the inquisitor of Pland, and no one can take your place at such short notice…”

Vanna knew what the old bishop was trying to say.

She has been polluted by the powers of a supernatural force. As an inquisitor of the Storm Church, showing weakness could prove fatal for herself and others in their ranks. Of course, no one would question her faith. That’s not a variable in this matter.

“…… I can’t leave my post,” Vanna shook her head after a brief thought, knowing she was giving the old bishop a problem that he didn’t want. However, she still had to continue to perform her duties, “I have a very bad feeling that we have a real crisis on our hands. It may not necessarily be caused by the Vanished or sun fragment but by a bigger shadow lurking within the city.”

Valentine definitely picked up on the seriousness of Vanna’s tone. Immediately frowning: “Crisis beyond the Vanished and sun fragment. Have you discovered something lately?”

“…… I investigated some materials inside the archives, which should have been told to you the next morning, but now it seems the situation is more complicated than expected. The urgency needs to be adjusted upward,” Vanna nodded and said with a particularly grim voice. “I became suspicious of the timing of the sun fragment’s appearance all those years ago. After consulting some materials from 1889 and earlier years, I found a large number of less urgent but strange and dense… heretical worship reports… Most importantly, the yearly report for 1885 is missing”

As Vanna spoke, Bishop Valentine’s eyes finally widened a little.

“These materials were just sitting in our archive?” The old priest exclaimed in disbelief, “And no one noticed 1885 is missing…?”

“That’s right. It’s as if someone had stolen that part of reality from the city, removing it from the eyes of everyone.” Vanna’s expression now got dark, “And I can be somewhat certain this phenomenon isn’t caused by the sun fragment.”

Valentine tightened his grasp around the scepter in his hand, causing the knuckles to go faintly white. “Then what is your take on Captain Duncan’s message?”

“Uncertain, but the records show no indication the Vanished is capable of stealing reality from us. Secondly, if this is the work of that ghost captain, then there is no reason for him to invade my dreams and tell me this crucial clue. This is not in line with the chaotic and mad style he portrayed a century ago.” Vanna calmly analyzed what she knew and deduced the most plausible answer, “Unless… he had a sudden change in his character and became more vicious and devious, or…”

“Or?”

“Or become an enthusiastic person concerned about the safety of the city-state,” Vanna spread her hand in the fashion of someone that’s unsure, “he did come and report his findings after all.”

“Oomph! Please don’t make such a horrible joke,” Valentine coughed vehemently at the sad attempt to lighten the mood. “You always had such poor humor you know Vanna. It really makes me doubt your mental state sometimes even on a good day.”

After complaining, the old priest smashed his chest and straightened that back to prepare for the next step, “So who else knows about the abnormality in the archives?”

Vanna thought for a bit and shook her head: “Only I know. I went to investigate the matter myself…” But as she said that, the lady paused as if a cog had just malfunctioned. Shaking it off like it’s nothing, “That’s right, I found the files myself.”

“That’s good to hear… If there is a black hand pulling the strings behind this matter then they won’t know about us being aware yet.” Valentine exhaled at some good news, “Do you have a plan for those archives?”

“Yes, including actions with City Hall as well.”

“Starting immediately tomorrow, I will provide you with the church’s assistance as well,” Valentine immediately nodded. “I will also report what happened here to the Her Majesty the Pope. Let’s hope the Grand Storm Cathedral can provide us with some assistance from their end out at sea…”

While speaking, the old man thought for a few seconds and asked, “Can you still pray to the goddess as usual?”

“Yes,” Vanna replied immediately, “my connection with the goddess was not affected by that dream.”

Valentine frowned: “But the goddess didn’t make a revelation or warning about the spiritual pollution you suffered?”

“…… That’s right,” Vanna hesitated but nodded in acknowledgment, “the goddess did not warn me.”

Valentine rubbed his chin, and after a moment of deep thought, he suddenly looked into Vanna’s eyes: “… During this time, you must return to the church at night to rest. Do not fall asleep outside the church, and be sure to carry the Storm Codex with you at all times when you are outside. Also, if you ever feel unusually sleepy or tired while moving outside, head to the nearest chapel immediately, understand?”

“Absolutely.”

“…… Alas Vanna, I hope you don’t think poorly of me for making such harsh demands of you.” The old bishop somehow appeared slightly older like he’s stressed by the matter, “There is no priest or nun capable of replacing you at the moment in Pland. As the inquisitor and leader of the guardians, you mustn’t fall at any cost. Perform your duties as per your vow.”

“As per my vow, always!” Vanna faintly smiled but also grew firm in her face like a warrior confronting combat, “I know full well how dangerous of a thing we are facing. I will not commit the same mistake my predecessor did when fighting the dark evils in the world.”

Speaking of this, she paused before continuing: “But what about the chapel in the sixth block…”

“We have to investigate. There’s no question about it. No matter the purpose of that ghost captain’s visit, we must leave no trail untouched.” Valentine grimly nodded at the image of the infamous pirate, “And… I somehow can’t remember who is in charge of the chapel in the sixth block. It’s as severe as we imagined…”

“I’ll personally lead a team over there tomorrow,” Vanna states.

“Very well,” Valentine bowed in gratitude to his peer, “but is there anything else that ghost captain mentioned besides the chapel?”

It would’ve been better if the old bishop didn’t ask, but Vanna’s expression had turned weird the second he did.

Valentine: “… Why do you have this expression?”

“He… did. It’s a very strange message,” Vanna’s face now looked hesitant and unsure, “I don’t know if we should take it seriously…”

“What’s wrong with it? The more bizarre the content, the more likely it is to be the key to everything!” Valentine’s eyes grew sharp, “What did he say?”

Vanna hesitated for a few seconds before sighing heavily, “Make some fries.”

Valentine: “…”

After a moment of silence, the old bishop finally spoke up again: “Really?”

“It is absolutely true, as true as my belief in a goddess.”

“…… Ah, then this is indeed… a bit too weird…”